[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN ROBERT B. SHIELDS, U.S. NAVY

                                 ______


                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 1996

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me 
in paying tribute to a dedicated U.S. Navy officer, gentleman and a 
friend as he prepares to take command of the U.S.S. Vicksburg, CG-69.
  Most of you will remember Capt. Robert B. Shields for his tour as a 
deputy legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff. Captain Shields served in this challenging position with honor 
and distinction until last year, when he returned to the fleet to 
prepare to take command on one of our finest ships-and Aegis Class 
cruiser.
  He has been connected with the Congress in one position or another 
for over 5 years of his distinguished 23-year Navy career. Captain 
Shields' accomplishments are an integral part of the continuing saga of 
the U.S. Navy in its third century of service to the Nation as it fully 
realizes the talent and potential of men who ply the sea in the service 
of our great Nation. I would like to take a moment to highlight Bob's 
career milestones.
  A native of Providence, RI, Captain Shields is a graduate of the U.S. 
Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, class of 1972. Captain Shields also 
earned a master's degree in engineering acoustics from the Naval Post 
Graduate School. His military career began in 1972 with his first 
assignment to U.S.S. Alwin where he was first lieutenant and anti-
submarine warfare officer. His second shipboard tour came when he 
commissioned U.S.S. Nicholson and served as her weapons officer. He 
then served his third shipboard tour as weapons officer in U.S.S. 
Richmond K. Turner.
  Capitalizing on his demonstrated leadership skills, the Navy sent 
Captain Shields to attend the Royal Navy Staff College in Greenwich, 
England. this was followed by service as executive office in U.S.S. 
Sterett, then homeported in the Republic of the Philippines. Detaching 
from his executive officer tour, Captain Shields was assigned to the 
office of the director, research, development and acquisition and then 
completed a year as a Federal executive fellow at the American 
Enterprise Institute. His first exposure to congress came when he was 
assigned as the congressional Liaison office for surface ship programs 
in the Nary's Office of Legislative Affairs. Upon conclusion of that 
assignment, Captain Shields took command of U.S.S. O'Bannon. With that 
successful tour behind him, Captain Shields was hand picked to be a 
legislative assistant to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Joint Chiefs 
of Staff.
  Captain Shields has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service 
Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, 
and the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation. He is married to the 
former Jennifer Reith of London, England, and has two wonderful 
children, Sarah and Robert.
  Bob was one of the principal liaison officers to Congress for both 
General Powell and General Shalikashvili during momentous times in our 
Nation's history--the end of the cold war, Operations Provide Promise, 
Provide Hope, Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, Deny Flight, and Restore 
Democracy, among countless other military operations and exercises. 
During the restoration of democracy in Haiti, he accompanied Members of 
this House on a fact-finding delegation to that troubled country. He 
has served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's principal 
liaison with the House National Security Committee and the House 
Appropriations Committee. I and many others of this body have often 
depended on him to be on top of the national security issues of the 
day, complete with timely, sound, and accurate information and advice.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor and personal privilege for me to pay 
tribute to Capt. Robert B. Shields before the Congress in honor of his 
taking command of U.S.S. Vicksburg on May 3, 1996. It is clear, through 
a record of accomplishment, Bob is someone dedicated to the peace and 
freedom this Nation enjoys today. We wish him every success as he 
assumes his new command and for what I know will be a bright future. 
May he always have fair winds and following seas.

                          ____________________